Apparatus for mining coal



' April 3,- 1934. E. c. MORGAN 1,953,325

l APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed June 2s, 191sl 7 sheets-sheet 1 w fzfor' l ,Vati/s.

April 3, l934 E. c. MORGAN 1,953,325

' APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed June .'25, 1915 7 Sheets-Sheet `2April 3, 1934. E. c. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed June 23,1915A 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 3, 1934. A E. c.Y MORGAN 1,953,3-'25 lAPlARATs FOR MINING GOAL Filed June 25V, 1913 7 sheets-sheet 4 April 3,1934. E. c. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed June 23, 1913 7Sheets-Sheet 5 `April 3, 1934. E, c, MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING coAr.-

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 25, 1913 XZ g 7l' 55.10

April 3, 1934.

E. c. MORGAN APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed June 2s, 1913v 7sheets-sheet '7 Patented Apr. `3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE- APPARATUS FORMINING COAL Edmund C. Morgan, Chicago, Ill.: Olive Eugenie Morgan,executrix of the estate of Edmund C.

Morgan,

deceased, assignor to American Morgan Company, a corporation of DelawareApplication June 23, 1913, Serial No. 775,173

437 Claims.

My invention relates to method of and apparatus for mining coal or othermaterials, and more particularly to such as are characterized by thecutting of a plurality of kerfs for the purpose of enabling the coal orother materials to be removed in blocks or substantially regular anduniform masses.

The methods herein disclosed are described and claimed in my co-pendingdivisional applications Ser. No. 520,071, filed March 4, 1931, forMethod of mining coal and Ser.fNo. 607,344, filed April 25, 1932, forMethod of mining coal.

One of the objects of my invention is to generally improve and simplifythe mining of coal or other materials and to generally simplify andimprove the apparatus for carrying on such methods. Other objects of myinvention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a general view in side elevation of a mining machineembodying my invention.

Fig. l represents a fragmentary view partly in elevation and partly incentral vertical section, of Fig. 1 to show the pivotal connectionbetween the turn table and the truck.

Figure 2 is a general top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a port-ion of Fig. 2 to show the powertransmission between the motor on. the main frame and the advancing andre'- tracting beam. `Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of acutting mechanism or cutter bar embodying my invention.

Figure 3n is a transverse sectional view of the cutting mechanism on theline 3\3 of Figure 3.

Figure 4 is a rear end elevation of the machine shown in Figures 1 and2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 6 ofthe mechanism for transmitting power to the cutting mechanism and foractuating the cutting mechanism.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for -retaining thecontrol levers in their various positions. f

Figure 8 isa fragmentary view in side elevation similar to thecorresponding portion of the strucfied construction.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 isa sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure 11, similar toFigure 5 but showing the ture shown in Figure 1 but illustrating a modi`details of the modified construction illustrated in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure10.

Figures 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating a method of miningcoal.

Figure 14 is a'diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which myimproved mining machine may be employed for cutting kerfs in the coal.

Figure 15 is a view similar to 14 showing the vertical kerf out by myimproved machine.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic view in section showing a number ofvvertical kerfs angularly disposed with relation to each other and cutin the manner shown in Figures 14 and 15.

Figures 17 to 24 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating severalmodifications of my improved method of mining.

Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the kerf-cutter adjusted toa cutting position in a horizontal piane intermediate the floor and rooffor the cutting of the intermediate horizontal kerf shown in Figs. 23and 24.

In mining various materials', and particularly coal, it is extremelydesirable and important that the coal be mined with as small amount oicuttings as possible and that it be mined in large regular shaped blocksor masses so that it may be conveniently handled, not only in removingit from the mine but for shipping it and transporting it. Thedesirability and advantage of taking coal out of the mines in as largeblocks as l possible is aparent when it is realized that thetransportation of coal is not only greatly facilitated by the ease andconvenience with which the large blocks may be packed for shipment inthe cars, but because of the fact that large unbroken masses of coalretain their efficiency much longer than coal which is broken'intorelatively small particles when exposed to the influences of theweather. In the drawings, and particularly in Figures 12, 13, and 17 to22, inclusive, I have diagrammaticaly illustrated my improved method ofmining coal by which all of these advantages are obtained. Figure 13illustrates diagrammaticall'y a longitudinal vertical section through avein of coal, and Figure` 12 diagrammatically illustrates the forwardend oLthe vein, that is"the end of the vein at which the` miningoperations take place. In carrying out my improved method I prefer.i'lrst, to make a plurality of vertical parallel cuts orkerfs X whichpreferably. extend in vertical planes from the lower faces X1 of thevein and the upper faces X2 thereof. That is,

vertical kerfs or cuts extend between what is generally known as thepoints of cleavage between the stratum or vein of coal and the earth orground between which the vein of coal is confined. These cuts or kerfs Xare preferably as thin as possibleso as to avoid any more cuttings thanis necessary, and they extend longitudinally into the vein at a distancewhich is found suitable or advisable under the particular circumstancesand requirements. The kerfs X are likewise spaced apart at suchdistances as found to be best adapted to the particular conditions andrequirements. I also make a plurality of long horizontalkerfs X3,X3preferably extending from one side of the vein of coal to the other sidethereof so as to divide the vein into a plurality of large blocks X4,X5, X6. These horizontal kerfs, as shown in Figure 13, lie in planeswhich are disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vein.They preferably begin at points X7, X8 below or above the longitudinalcenter of the vein and extending angularly upward and downwardly fromsaid respective points preferably to `the roof and floor of the mineentry; although I have found that these horizontal kerfs need Vnotextend all of the way to the roof or oor of the mine entry under certaincircumstances. For instance, in Figures 17 and 18 it will be noted thatthe horizontal kerfs X3, which incline upwardly toward the roof of themine entry, may terminate short of the roof and leave an uncut portionX9 which must be broken when blocks of coal are dislodged, whilethekerfs X3', which incline downwardly toward the door of the entry, may,

if desired, extend all the way to the floor or line ofcleavage. Theseuncut portions X9, however, are preferably not sufficiently thick toprevent the blocks of coal being readily dislodged or broken away afterthe kerfs are cut. As shown in Figures 13 and 18, the series ofhorizontal kerfs X3 are preferably parallel with respect to each other,

`and likewise the series of horizontal kerfs X3' lie in planes parallelwith respect to each other. In consequence there are left uncut portionsX10 and X11 between said kerfs along the lines of cleavage both at theroof and floor of the mine, and after the kerfs have been made theseblocks may be dislodged or broken away from these lines of cleavage inany suitable manner under the particular circumstances, or they may besevered by horizontal kerfs. In practice I prefer to make a series ofvertical kerfs first and after these vrtical kerfs are cut I then cutthe horizontal kerfs because it can readily be seen that if thehorizontal kerfs X3 were made first there would be a large mass or longslab of coal suspended from the roof of the mine which, under theconditions in some mines, would be likely to fall owing to the fact thatthe adhesion of the slab of coal to the roof of the mine along thecleavage line X10 would not be suicient to support the slab of coal.Often this-is true even when the vertical kerfs are made rst and thehorizontal kerfs afterward but ins such cases, as the horizontal kerfadvances across the vein intersecting the vertical kerfs and forming thecomplete blocks X4, I prefer to jack up or support the blocks X11 untilthe horizontal kerfs are completed clear across the vein. Any suitablemeans for supporting these cut blocks may be employed, such, forinstance, as jacks X12 of the character illustrated in Figures l2 and13. These jacks are provided with broad bases X13 and with standardswhich are inclined substantially parallel to the planes of thehorizontal kerfs, and the heads X14 of these jacks are formed mine.

Athe jacks may be removed and the blocks allowed to drop or be dislodgedfor removal from the The advantage of supporting the blocksY X4 inposition until all of them have been cut is that the machine, if themachine is used, which cuts the kerfs may be moved out of the way inorder to permit the convenient removal of the blocks. The cutting of thehorizontal kerfs X3 and X3 is preferably done alternately with respectto each other. That is to say, after the vertical kerfs are cut ahorizontal upwardly inclined cut X3 is cut. The blocks X4 may bedislodged and removed from the mine entry, thus leaving the face of thecoal clear so that the next horizontal cut X3 which begins at point X8and inclines downwardly may be cut, thus leaving the lower blocks X5 incondition to be broken along the lower cleavage line X11 and removedfromthe mine. I have not found it necessary to support the lower blocks X5by means of jacks or otherwise, because they are resting upon the floorof the mine, so to speak, and there lis not the tendency for them tofall away or break along their lines of cleavage without the aid of aslight additional dislodging force being applied to them. Of course thevertical kerfs X should be made deep enough in advance of the cutting ofthe horizontal kerfs so that the blocks will be cut on all sides exceptalong the lines of cleavage and at the portions Xg (Figure 18) when thekerfs X3 are not'extended all the way to the roof of the mine. It is tobe understood, however, that the horizontal kerfs may be made before thevertical kerfs .because in some mines there is found no tendency of theslabs of coal to fall of their own weight, but this, of course, is to bedetermined by the conditions in the particular mine in which the coal isbeing cut. Figures 20 and 22 diagrammatically illustrate a modificationin the angular relations of the cuts. that the horizontal kerfs X3 andX3 begin at points X15 above and below the longitudinal center of thevein; that is to say, the cuts X3 and X3 are disposed entirely above andbelow the longitudinal center of the mine respectively. It will also benoted that these kerfs X3 and X3 do not incline at as great an anglewith respect to the longitudinal axis of the mine as they do in Figure13. In consequence, this allows center blocks X111' In these gures itwill be noticed -a to be cut in addition to the upper and lower blocksFigure 18, but as shown in Figure 22. these cuts lll-'i may extendentirely to the line of cleavage, if desired. In'Figure 22 it will benoticed that the center blocks are completely cut on all sides; that isto say, the kerfs X3 and X3' are extended into the center blocks X16until they intersect or meet at the point X18, thereby making completecuts on all sides of the blocks. Figures 23 and 24 are diagrammaticviews illustrating my improved method wherein I cut a plurality ofhorizontal parallel kerfs X19. These kerfs lie in planes "lV spacedapart but substantially parallel with the longitudinal center ofthevein. Any number of the'se kerfs may be cut, depending, of course,upon the size of the vein and the particular operating conditions,although in the drawings I have illustrated only three horizontal kerfs,one being located at the upper line of cleava e of the vein, anotherbeing located at the lower line of cleavage and a third substantially inthe center of the vein. The cutting of the horizontal intermediate kerfX19' shown in Figs. 23 and 24 may be effected by swinging the at chainkerf-cutter 90 from its position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 so thatits upper surface will be parallel to the roof. Then by means of theworm gearing shown in Fig. 6 the kerf-cutter may be swung on the axis 81to a position parallel to the mine track. While the arms of the supportE extend upwardly as shown in dotted line positions in Fig. 1 the motorwill be upright and the shaft 8l of Fig. 6 will be vertical. Thekerf-cutter will then occupy a top position in a horizontal planeparallel to the mine track. Now by means oi the worm gearing 63, 64 themotor and korf-cutter may be inverted and the latter may then be swungintoy the rib or, upright wall of the entry and the intermediate kerfX19 of Figs. 23 and 24 may be produced by a longwall operation. That isto say, while the kerf-cutter is\horizontal and parallel to the bearing52 and approximately in alinement with the lower surface thereof thewhole machine may be moved along the mine track by means of the ropegearing illustrated in Fig. 2. In the same manner the motor F may beinverted from its full line position in Fig. 1 and the kerf-cutterpositioned in a horizontal plane parallel to the horizontal axis of thesupport E and lapproximately in alinement with the upper surface of thebearing 52. The kerf-cuter may therefore be adjusted to four horizontalparallel positions, oneat the floor, one at the roof and two adjacentthe horizontal axis of the support E. Furthermore, in any horizontalposition whether at the floor or at the roof or intermediate the oor andthe roof the self-locking Worm gearing may be used to tilt thekerf-eutter on the axis 62; the screw 12 may be relied on to adjust theelevation of the kerf-cutter within the vertical limits of the turntablegear 16 it being understood that the worm 15 should remain in mesh withthe turntable gear 16 to hold the supporting framework locked to thetruck during the longwall operation, while the flanged wheels 1 of thetruck serve to laterally brace themining machine in co-operation withthe rails 3 of the mine track. It should also be noted that when theaxis 62 of Fig. 1 is vertical various shearing positions may be obtainedby turningsthemotor F 'end for end and also turning the kerf-cutter endfor end thereby positioning the latter intermediate the ribs or sidewalls of the mine entry. In other words, a kerf may be cut parallel tothe horizontal axis 52 either outside of the axis 62 er inside of thesame irrespectivel of the position ef the support E on the bearing 52. Ialso cut a plurality of preferably parallel vertical kerfs X20 extendinglongitudinally into the vein and intersecting the horizontal kerfs X19seas to cut the blocks of coal on all sides except at their inner endportions X21, which portions are leftuncut. Under ordinary circumstancesthese uncut portions X21 will be broken by the weight of the blocksthemselves and the blocks will drop one upon the other in stacks. so tospeak. In lthe event that the conditions in the particular mine are suchthat the uncut portions will not be broken by the weight of the blocksthemselves, then they' may be broken in a suitable manner by applyingthe suitable force thereto to break along the' uncut positions. It willbe noted that I incline the vertical kerfs X20 at a slight angle withrespect to a vertical line, and my object in doing this is to facilitatethe cutting of the kerfs by mining machines. degree it will be notedthat the breaking of the uncut portions X21 by the weight of the blocksand the dropping of the blocks will not interfere in any way with thecutting mechanism of the mining machine. In other words, the blocks willdrop directly awayfrom the cutting'mechanism and allow the cuttingmechanism to be withdrawn after the kerfs are made. In the method shownin Figures 23 and 24 the horizontal kerfs X19 are preferably eut firstand then the upright kerfs are cut one by one in sequence beginning withthe right hand kerf and proceeding with the cutting By inelining thevertical kerfs, to a slight drawings I prefer to use a flat elongatedcutting bar or cutting mechanism A, shown best in Figures 1, 2 and 3 andin detail in Figures 3 and 3, because I am thereby enabled to cutcomparatively thin kerfs or scuts without any considerable amount ofcuttings. The details of my preferred cutting mechanism structure will.be described hereinafter. It is sufcient at this time to say that thecutting mechanism is in the form of a long at comparatively thinstructure having a cutting chain B traveling preferably in one directionaround its periphery so as'to form a peripheral edge, so to speak. Thiscutter bar is preferably comparatively narrow in width and is preferablymade of such length as to meet the desired requirements as to depth. ofcut, etc.

This cutter bar or 'cutting mechanism is mounted'and arranged so that itmay be bodily shifted or positioned so as not only to present itedgewise and enter it at any yangle with respect to Y the material to becut, but it may also be rotated Abodily to such adjusted position andthen swung bodily in eitherdirection in suoli adjusted position so thatit may sweep through a large area in a given plane. I will proceed,therefore, to describe a mechanism by which these positions and cuttingmovements are brought about.

The entire machine is preferably mounted-upon Va wheeled truck C, thewheels 1 of which are preferably mounted up suitable axles 2 and adaptedIto run on rails 3 laid along the floor of the mine or entry or otherline of movement along which the machine .is to operate. erablyvsupported by metal ties 4 transversely arranged at intervals and havingup-turned ends 5. The ralis are laid on the ties `adjacent the upturnedends 5 of the ties and are prevented from spreading or shifting by meansof blocks 6, disposed between the rails and the up-turned ends of theties and by means of spikes or other suitable fastening devices 7arranged to engage the base of the rails, as shown more clearly inFigures 1 and 4. 'I'he truck is shown as having a large The rails 3areprefi form` 10 which serves as a widely expanded turntable having adiameter'approximately equal to the width of the truck andwhich has acentral vertically disposed shaft or bearing member l1 (Figure 1)rotatably sunk into the socket or bearing member 9 of 'the truckplatform, whereby the turn-table 10 may be rotated about the verticalaxis of its shaft or pivot member 1l. The entire mining machine ispreferably mounted upon or supported by this turn-table so that it maybe bodily swung or rotated about a vertical axis to position thecutting-mechanism with respect to the material to be cut. I prefer thatthe turntable with the mining machine mounted thereon shall be capableof bodily vertical adjustment, and for thisgpurpose any suitablemechanism may be provided. In the drawings (Figures 1 and 4) Iillustrate a screw member 12 threaded through the bottom of the bearingmember 9 and operating against the lower end of the shaft or pivotmember 11 whereby the turn-table may be raised or lowered with respectto the truck, as desired. The turn table is provided with power actuatedmeans comprising the worm gear 15 and the large gear` 16 and for thesake of simplicity in illustration, I have shown the worm gear 15operated by a hand wheel 17 although it should be understood that it maybe operated by means of any desired mechanism. As shown in Fig. 4 theworm gear l5 is connected to a shaft 13 which is suitably journaled inan upstanding arm or bearing 14 on the truck and having at one end aworm wheel 1 5 which meshes with gear teeth 16 on the periphery of theturn-table 10, and having at its other end a suitable hand wheel 17 bywhich the shaft may be conveniently rotated by an operator or attendantstanding at the side of the machine. A pair of open, preferablyrectangular, frames D are rigidly mounted upon the turn-table 10 in anysuitable manner. These frames are parallel and are spaced apart. Theupper and lower bars or members D1, D2 respectively, of each of theseframes are parallel and are adapted to form guides or tracks for a pairof rsliding standards 19 and 20, respectively. These sliding standardsare suitably formed at their upper and lower ends to embrace the trackbars D1 and D2 of the frames to prevent displacement of the standards inany direction except along the track members of the frame. Thesestandards are rigidly connected together at their bases by a platformmember 21 so that they, in conjunction with the platform 21, constitutea sub-frame which may be rigidly shifted horizontally in the main framesD, as above described, and by means of this arrangement the entirecutting mechanism may be bodily shifted to any position within thelimits of this shifting or sliding adjustment. and the mechanismsupported thereby may be accomplished in any suitable manner consistentwith the conditions and requirements. In the drawings I have shown poweroperating mechanism for this purpose. On the sub-frame plat- 4form 21 Imount an electric motor 22, the electric connections for which may bebrought to the motor in the usual manner and which need n ot bedescribed. The motor shaft is supported in a bearing 23 and carries atits outer end a pinionl 24 which drives a larger spur gear 25, the spurgear being mounted upon to drive a counter-shaft 26 supported in bearingstandards 2'7. This counter-shaft carries a rotatable sleeve 28 which isprovided with a .worm gear 29 and which may be connected with ordisconnected from the The shifting of this sub-frame' counter-shaft 26by any suitable clutch mechanism such, for instance, as I have shown inthe drawings. It will be seen that the inner end 30 of the sleeve visprovided with notches or teeth so as to form one member of the clutch.'I'he other member 31 of the clutch is mounted upon the shaft 26 torotate therewith and to slide longitudinally thereof, and this member 31may be thrown into or out of engagement with the clutch member 30 by thehand-operated lever 32 pivoted at one end to the platform 21. Hence, byoperating this hand-lever the worm wheel 29 may be connected with theshaft 26 to be drivenY thereby or disconnected from said Shaft at will.'I'he worm gear 29 meshes with and drives a worm gear 33 which ismounted upon a vertical shaft journaled in a bearing mounted upon theplatform 21. The vertical shaft carries a horizontally disposed windingdrum or capstan 34, and as this capstan may be used as a means forshifting the sub-frame in the main frame, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, ajack 35 may be placed at a proper position in the mine entry and a ropeor cable 36 hooked thereto and run to the capstan or drum so that bypermitting the cable to wind upon the drum the sub-frame may be shiftedin the main frame. Any suitable anchor may be used for the end of therope, but I prefer to use a jack 35, such as shown in Figure 4, becauseit may be conveniently handled and moved about from place to place. Theupper portions of the standards 19 of the sub-frame carry a large heavybar or member 40 preferably of rectangular cross section and arranged toslide or shift longitudinally in suitable bearing members 41 of thesubframe standards. This bar is preferably of considerable length sothat it will have quite a long range of movement. It will be noted thatthe line of movement of this bar 40 is disposed at right angles ortransversely to the line of bodily movement of the shifting sub-frame sothat by reason of this construction, in conjunction with the sub-frame,the cutting mechanism may be bodily shifted or adjusted in twodirections at right angles to each other thereby allowing a wide rangeof bodily adjustment for the cutting mechanism. The shifting of this bar40 is accomplished through the medium of gear mechanism interposedbetween the bar 40 and the driving motor 22. As shown more clearly inFigures 1, 2 and 4, it will be seen that the entire under side of thebar or member 40 is provided with a series of gear teeth 42 therebyconstituting a rack bar. A driving pinion 43 meshes with these rackteeth for imparting longitudinal movement to the shifting bar 40, andthe pinion 43 is mounted upon a shaft 44 which is journaled in bearings45 depending from one of the rack bar bearings 41. The end of the shaft44 carries a large worm wheel 46 which meshes with and is driven by aworm gear 47 similar to the worm gear 29, and which is carried upon arotatable sleeve 48 on shaft 26 similar to the sleeve 8. This sleevelike sleeve 28, forms one member of a clutch, the other member 49 ofwhich is rotatable with shaft 26 but slidable thereon, and this clutchmember 49 is adapted to be shiftedinto and out of engagement with thesleeve 48 by the hand lever 50. Thus the movement of the shifting .rackbar 40 may be controlled at will, and by reason of the worm gearing justdescribed the rack bar will remain locked in any position to which it ismoved without the necessity of additional locking means, At one end ofthis rack bar 40 I provide an arm or member 51 which is disposeddownwardly for a .portion` of its length and then turned horif zontallyinto substantial parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the,rack bar 40. The longitudinally disposed portion of this depending -armforms a pivot member or stud 52 upon which a trunnion or support 'E isrotatably mounted. By reference to Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted J.that the trunnion member E has a centrally disposed bearing portion orstem lill which is rotatable upon the pivot member 52, and which maybeheld in placek upon this pivot member against an annular shoulder 53on the arm 51 by means of a removable cap 54 which is fastened to theend of the stud member 52. by means of a screw or bolt 55. Thus by thisconstruction the trunnion member or fork support E is capable of rotarymovement upon an axis -which is substantially parallel with thelongitudinal axis of movement of the rack bar 40 and which is sub-ystantially transverse to the vertical axis of rotation of theyturn-table upon which the machine is mounted. For the purpose ofrotating this trunnion member E about its horizontal axis in aconvenient manner I provide a worm wheel 66 on the bearing portion .E1of the trunnion member and this worm wheel is driven by a worm gear 57which is mounted upon a shaft 58 supported in a suitable bearing 59outstanding from the end of' the rack bar 40. The shaft 58 has a handwheel 60 by which it may be conveniently actuated by the operator tomanipulate the -position of the trunnion member E.' It will be notedthat by reason of the worm gear arrangement the trunnion member will'beautomaticallylocked to any position in which it is rotated without theneed of additional locking mechanism.' An electric motor F is rotatablysupported in this trunnion or forked support E. In the drawings Irhave`shown a pair ol brackets 61 bolted to the motor casing F ondiametrically opposite sides thereof. and these brackets carryoutstanding stud or pivot members 62 arranged in alinement and suitablyJournaled in the outer or `free ends of the blocks or arm members E2 ofthe trunnion member E so that the motor may be rotated about an axiswhich, as will be noted, is disposed sub- Y stantially at right anglesto the axis of rotation` of the trunnion member E. It will be noted thatthe arms 'E2 of the trunnion member E are curved so thatthe axis ofrotation ofthe motor F in the trunnion members isoif-set to aconsiderable, extent with respect to the axis of rotation of thetrunnion member. This construction, while not necessary to someoperations of the mining marange than otherwise.

chine, is -of .advantage in that it will enable the cutting mechanism tooperate through a greater One of the brackets 61 carries arigidsegmental worm gear 63 which meshes with and is driven by a worm64. The worm 64 is mounted upon a small shaft 65 which is carried in aJournal bearing 66 extending from/ one/ of the arms E2 of the-'trunnionmember E, and thed shaft also carries a hand wheel 67 by which it may bemanipulated to rotate the motor aboutlits axis. The worm gearinglike inthe other cases'heretofore mentioned, makes it possible to eliminatespecial locking means efor holding the-motor in any position in which itis rotated. l The cutting mechanism comprising the cutter bar A iscarried by a frame or casing member whichsis rotatable on an axistransverse or at right angles to the axis of rotation of the motor inthe trunnion member, whereby the-cutting mechanism may be -rotated inthe plane of itself through a considerable range and thus permit a muchwider cut or kerf to be made than if the cutting mechanism were fixedwith respect to the notor which drives it. As shown in the drawings.ythe frame or casing 70 has an internal peripheral groove 71 formed atits edge and this groove fits an annular iiange '72 on the motor casingso that a bearing is provided upon which the casing 70 may rotate. Aremovable flange or cap ring 73 is bolted to the casing 70 to permit theparts to be readily disassembled. This casing, together with the motorcasing, as will be noticed. forms a' complete enclosure for the variousgears and operating parts contained therein, leaving none of theseoperating parts exposed to the grit and dust which necessarily resultsfrom the cutting operation. Referring more particularly to Figures 5 and6 it is to be understood that F1 represents the field magnets of anystandard or suitable motor, and F2 the armature thereof, the armaturebeing mounted upon the motor shaft F3 and Journaled in ballbearings F*in the head or end of the motor casing F. The motor shaft F3 projectsbeyond the bearing and carries a spur pinion 75 which drives a largerspur gear 76 carried byl a shaft :'I'Lthe shaft having its bearing 78 ina bracket preferably formed integrally with ,the casing 70.-

This shaft also carries a spur pinion 79 which drivesthe large spur.gear 80, which latter gear is mounted upon and adapted to drive a shaft81 Journaled in the frame or casing 70. The purpose of operating thistrain of gears thus described is' to reduce the relative speed of theshaft 81. The shaft 81, as willr be noticed, is lined up with the motorshaft F3 `and carries at 'its outer end a sprocket 82 aroundfwhich thecutter chain travels and by which said cutter chain is driven, as willbe hereinafter described. The inner end of the shaft 81 carries abeveled gear 83 which is adapted to drive two small radially disposedshafts 84 and 86 through the medium of twosmall beveled pinions 86 whichare carried by the shafts 84 and 85 and which mesh with the beveled gear83. The other ends of the shafts A84 and 85 carry beveled pinions 87 and88 re- ,l so

Thisworm gear meshes with an annular series of gear teeth 961formed uponthe motor casing' F. Hence by driving the worm gear 96 in eitherdirection the casing 70 may be rotated relatively to the motor on anaxis which in this case is coincident Awith the axis of rotation ofthemotor shaft, and since the cutter bar A is mounted upon this casing '70the cutter bar will be given al bodily rotation about an axis which ispermanently at right angles to the plane thereof. Thus by reason of thisconstruction the kerf-cutter comprising the cutter bar and the endlesschain cutter thereon mayf be, swung in the plane oi' 1stl itself ineither direction while the cutting elements on the cutter chaincontinuey to travel around the cutter bar in the same direction. Bysimply shifting one or the other ofthe clutch members. 91 and 92 it isobvious, of course, that the gears 87 or 88 may be thrown into or out ofoperation to drive the worm gear 96 in whichever direction is desiredwhile the motor continues to rotate in the same direction. In Figure 5 Ihave shown a device by which either of these clutch members may beshifted from either of two different points. I provide a rigid leverwhich is centrally pivoted at 97 to the casing 70 and which has two bentarms which are connected to the clutch members 91 and.92. These -bentarms 98 project through openings 99 in the casing or frame 70y inposition to be actuated by an operator for controlling the clutches. Theadvantage of providing two integrally connected arms 98, 98, as shown inFig. 5, for operating these clutches, lies in the fact that the clutchescan be operated only alternatively for reversing the swinging feedingmovement of the kerfcutter on its right angle axis 81. One of the edgesof each of the openings 99 in the casing 70 has three depressions V100(see Figure 7) corresponding to the different positions to which therespective arm is shifted, and the arms are each provided with a slightenlargement 101 adapted to enter these notches or depressions in theedges of the casing and hold the arms in the positions to which they areshifted, the arms being made to spring slightly so that they/will beheld in the notches by the tension thereon.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 3a and 6, the details ofthe kerf-cutter A, B will now be described. This kerf-cutter com-.prises a nat elongated frame 105 around the edge or periphery of whichthe cutter chain travels. The cutter frame 105, as will be noticed, liesin substantially the plane of the sprocket 82 so that the sprocket andframe will be properly lined up to accommodate thev chain. The end ofthe cutter frame 105 ,nearest the sprocket 82 has an off-set tail orextension 106 which is disposed substantially parallel with the frameitself but is adapted to slide in the guideway 107 formed in the frameor casing 70, this tail piece or extension being provided with a slot108 for the accommodation of the bearing portion or journal 109 of theshaft 81; the purpose of this construction being to allow the frame 105to be adjusted longitudinally in either direction relatively to thesprocket 82, for the purpose of tightening or loosening the cutter chainor for the purpose of shortening or 'lengthening this chain, as will belhereinafter described- The journal or bearing portion 109 of the frame70 carries a headed bolt or screw 110, the head 111 of which ispositioned in a slot in the hub portion 109 so as to prevent novement ofthe bolt in either direction. This bolt extends through an opening inthe end 112 of the tail piece 106 and is provided with two nuts '113,the purpose of the bolt and nuts being to hold the cutter frame 105 inany position to which it is `longi tudinally shifted. As shown moreparticularly in Figures 3 and 3EL it will be seen that the cutter chainis composed of a plurality of bit holding or center links 115 and aplurality of intermediate side links 116. The bit holding or centerlinks 115 are preferably provided with removable cutting elements orcutter bits 117, and are adapted to be guided along the peripheral edge118 of the cutter frame. The side links 116 project beyond the bitholding or center links so as to form, in a nsensej'a continuous channelon the inside of the chain, and the cutter frame has shoulders 119formed near its edge to accommoslightly wider than the thickness of theframe and chain. I find it desirable to allow the cutter chain to travelaround the outer end of the cutter frame, this being a suflicientsupport for the chain without adding any undue friction, but, ifdesired, a sprocket wheel 120 may be provided at the outer end of thecutter frame, as shown in Figures 3 and 3B.

That -the mining apparatus described and shown is universal in itsadjustments and operations notwithstanding the use of only one elongatedkerf-cutter in a compact unitary trackmounted machine, may readily beunderstood by considering some ofthe operations which may be performedin a coal mine. Not only may longwall operations be performed to cut thehorizontally extending kerfs shown in Figs. 17 to 24 but also verticalkerfs of various heights may be cut as illustrated in Fig; 14. The samemethod of operation illustrated in Fig. 14 may be used in horizontalplanes at various elevations including the intermediate horizontal kerfX19 shown in Fig. 24, by means of the same operator-controlled self-contained power-operated mechanism that isI used for cutting rverticalkerfs. The operation illustrated in Fig. 14 may also be used in variousangular or intersecting planes parallel to the horizontal axis of theturnover support E.

When the axis 62 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 it is in ahorizontal plane extending through the turntable V10 and when thekerf-cutter is in a horizontal plane at the mine bottom the axis 81 isVertical and variably spaced horizontally from the vertical axis of theturntable. The machine may therefore be used to cut horizontal kerfs inan upright working face in advance of the space between the front end ofthe mine track and the mine vein in entries varying greatly in Width. Inthe wider entries rectilinear sumping and withdrawal cuts may beconnected by arcuate and transverse rectilinear cuts while the guidesD1, D2 of Fig. 4 are at right angles to the mine track.

Since the axis 62 is always parallel to the plane of the cutter bar itwill be vertical when the vertical kerfs of Fig. 16 are cut. These kerfsare cut by means of operator-controlled self-contained power-operatedmechanism while the track and supporting framework thereon arestationary on the mine track. Radial kerfs in a horizontal plane spacedabove a continuous under-kerf may also be cut by the sameoperatorcontrolled self-contained power-operated mechanism to insertincisions each no larger in crosssection than the cross-sectionaldimensions of the kerf-cutter. Such incisions may suillce to dislodgethe coal veins in which the coal is almost ready to drop down of its ownweight after theunder kerf has been cut. When the coal is so hard as torequire blasting the machine may be adapted to many different methods ofblasting because of the great variety of kerfs that may be cut fromeither side of the machine or in advance thereof at various elevations,slants and inclinations either horizontally or vertically or inintersecting planes.

. mine entry. Such floor and roof-kerfs may be cut on either sideof themine track and parallelr thereto.

The machine may be used as atop cutting machine when the support E is inits dotted line position of Fig. 1 with the kerf-cutter in a horizontalplane spaced` above all other parts of the machine. However, where theoverhead room in a mine vein is limited kerfs at different elevations inhorizontal planes all below a horizontal plane extending through the topof the machine may be cut by inverting the motor F as illustrated inFig. 25.

In Figures B, 9, 10 and 11 I illustrate a modi- "ication of my improvedmachine wherein I eliminate the motor F, which is positioned in the trunnion member E in Figs. 1 and 2, and substitute power transmissiongearing therefor, which gearing is driven by the motor 22 mounted uponthe sub-frame. By this arrangement I may use one motor of a larger'capacity for the purpose of driving and feeding kerf cutting,r mechanismand also for bodily shifting the parts. The shaft of the motor 22carries a pinion 125 which drives a large gear 126 mounted upon asuitable shaft which is supported in the bearing standards 127 on thesub-frame platform 21. This large gear 126 in turn meshes with anddrives one of two intermeshing gears 128Xof equal size, these gears 128being mounted on separate parallel shafts 129 and 130 which aresupported in suitable bearings 131 on the platform 21. These shafts alsocarry worms 132 and 133 which drive two4 large worm gears 134 and 135,respectively, mounted to rotate upon the shaft 44 which carries thepinion 43 for Y shifting the rack bar40. the shaft 44 being supported insuitable bearings which are altered in accordance with the changes ofconstruction in this'modiflcation. The gears 128 rotate in oppositedirections and in consequence drive the large worm wheels 134 and 135 inopposite direction. these gears being free to rotate upon the shaft 44.Between the two gears 134 and 135 I provide a shiftable clutch member136 which may be shifted on the shaft in either direction in the usualmanner to connect one or the other of the gears 134 and 135 with theshaft 44 to drive said shaft in either direction and thereby reciprocateor shift the rack bar 40 in either direction without reversing the motor22. The shaft 140 upon which the large gear 126 is mounted. ispreferably of substantially the length ofthe shifting or reciprocatingrack bar 40 and parallel therewith. This shaft is arranged so' that itwill slide longitudinally with respect to its' bearings and the gear 126in accordance with the movement of the rack bar. It is preferablysquared or otherwise formed, so that it will be rotated by thegear 126at 'any position in Jwhich it is shifted. This shaft which is made roundat this point. extends through a bearing formed in the horizontal orpivot portions-52 of the depending arm 51 and projects into the spacebetween the two arms or parts E2 of the rotary trunnion member andcarries a beveled pinion 141 on this projecting end. It also carries acollar 142 which takes the place of the cap member 54 to prevent thetrunnion from being displaced with respect to the pivot portion 52 buttoallow it to be rotated `about its axis in the same manner andpreferuably by similar hand-operated means to that shown in Figures land2. The beveled pinion 141 meshes with and drives a larger beveled gear143 which is rotatably mounted upon a xed shaft 144, the longitudinalaxis of which lies at right' angles to the axis of rotation of therotary trunnion member in the same manner that the axis of rotation ofthe motor E of Figure 1 bears with respect to said trunnion axis. Thisshaft has its bearings 145 in the ends of the trunnion arms E2. Betweenthe beveled gear 143 and one of the journals 145 is an arm146 having itshub 147 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 144 so that the arm 146 may beswung or rotated about the axis of the shaft 144. This arm 146 and itsmanner of mounting may be said to correspond to the I motor F (Figure 1)in so far as the movements thereof on rectangularly related axes areconcerned. The outer end of uthis pivoted arm has a bearing 148 and alarge head or flange 149 (Fig. 11) which may be said to correspond tothe .flange 72 of the construction shown in Figures 5 and 6. The casing70' is mounted to rotate upon the flange or head '149 in the sainemanner as in the `construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the detallsof this casing and its cutter mechanism carried thereby are similar tothe construction previously described and the descriptions thereof neednot be repeated. The shaft 8,1'

which carries the cutter chain sprocket 82' is similar to thecorresponding shaft of'Figures 5 and 6 except that it is not driven froma series of reducing gears within the casing 70 but instead it passesdirectly through the head 149 and is journaled in the bearing 148,. Onits inner end it carries a beveled pinion 150 which meshes with and isdriven by the large beveled gear 143 and in this way receives its motiondirect from the main moto'r 22 on the sub-frame platform. Thearrangement of the beveled gears 141. 143 and 150 thus permits thecutter chain shaft 81' to berotated. regardless of the angle or positionin which lthe arm 146 is rotated about its axis. I employ a hand wheel67 and worm and segmental worm gears 64 and 63 respectively. of theconstruction shown in the preceding Figures for rotating or positioningthe arm 146. except that` the segmental gear in this case is mountedupon the hub 147 oi the arm 146. The operation of the mechanism forrotating the casing 70' and the cutter mechanism about its axis isidentical in principle and the arrangement' of the parts similar to theconstruction shown inFigures 5 and 6. except that I employ worm andspiral gearing on the shafts 81'. 84' and 85' instead of the beveledgears 83. 86. 8'7. 88. 93 and 94 of Fig. 5. The annular series of gearteeth96 in Figs. 10 and 11. with which the worm gear 95 meshes. ismounted onthe face of the head ofthe flange member 149.v

Both in the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in the form shown in Figs. 8and 9. 'the elongated chain kerf-cutter is Iconnected on. rectangularlyrelated axes 81 and 62 to the outer end of the support or head E whichis adapted to be turned over on the horizontal axis of the bearing 52..The axis 81 is permanently at right angles to the plane of the cutterbar. In Figs. 1 and 8 the axis 82 is -permanently at right angles to thehoril zontal axial line of the turnover support E but in Fig. 1 the.axis 62 is spaced from such axial line while in Fig. 8 the axis 62intersects such axial line. The said horizontal axis is confined to afixed elevation relative to the supporting framework mounted on theturntable. The axis 62 is confined to adjustment in a vertical planespaced from the boundaries of the truck and the supporting framework.

When the kerf-cutter is adjusted toa plane parallel to the horizontalaxis of turnover of the support E the axis 81 will be at right angles tosuch horizontal axis. When the kerf-cutter is in such parallel plane itmay be operated by operator-controlled self-contained power-operatedmechanism solely supported by the truck for sumping the kerf-cutterreetilinearly, feeding the same arcuately and withdrawing the samerectilinearly to cut a parallel ribbed kerf having a depth substantiallyequal to the active length of the kerf cutter. Such kerfs may be cut inhorizcntal planes, vertical planes and inclined planes in the uprightface of the mine vein from either side of the mine track and in advancethereof While the truck is held stationary on the mine track by anysuitable and well-known means. I have previously mentioned that theabove described apparatus or machine is capable of and adapted to cutthe various kerfs at their various angles in order to carry out myimproved method of mining above described. In Figure 14 I havediagrammatically illustrated the manner in which the machine may bemanipulated to produce the vertical kerfs heretofore described. When itis desired to cut a vertical kerf in :the vein of coal the cutter bar A,by reason of its numerous adjustments, may be positioned so that it willlie in a vertical plane. When the kerf -cutter is in. a vertical planeor shear cutting position self-contained power-operated mechanismcomprising the rack` bar 40 may be relied on to feed the kerf-cutterreetilinearly in various directions into the ribs of the mine entry orinto the face extending across the space in advance of the mine track.'vIt should be particularly noted that the structure shown in Figs. 1 and2 is such that adjustments may be so made on spaced apart vertical axes,one of which is at.

' Such shearing positions include a vertical plane midway of the minetrack rails and parallel Ythereto. The rangeof such adjustments inparallel-is'm and in parallelism to the mine track and the ribs may beincreased by turning over theV kerf-cutter on the horizontal axis of thebearing 52, Since the height of the vein of coal is generallyconsiderably greater than the width ofthe cutter baul prefer to startthe kerf by lpcnitioning the Cutter bar so that it nes in a l mechanismadvances into the vein in the direction of the arrow Yl and while in itsangularly adjusted position. The advancement of the cutvting mechanismis preferably accomplished by shifting the rack bar 40, as previouslydescribed. The advancement in this direction is continued until thecutter bar has enteredthe vein to the required depth or distance, andsince its chain is traveling during this advancement it cuts along theupper line of cleavage. When it has 4reached the limit of itsadvancement the cutter bar may be swung or rotated downwardly in thedirection of the arrow Y2 but still in the plane of itself until itsouter end reaches' the lower line of cleavage, whereupon with a suitablecutting speed'it may be withdrawn from the vein while in this lastmentioned adjusted position, the direction of withdrawal being thatindicated by the arrow Yf. In other words, to cut avertcal kerf ofgreater height than the width of the cutter mechanism the cuttermechanism may be moved in three or more directions 1all in the sameplane. It will be observed that I have provided a mining machineconstruction wherein the cutting mechanism is universally movable 0radjustable; that is to say, it may be placed in any position at anyangle at which it is desired to cut aikerf.

` It should also be understood that when the trunnion arms E2 are in theposition shown in on the trunnion 62 by operating the wheel 67.

In this way, the cutting mechanism or cutter bar A may be swung aroundsoas to occupy a position in a horizontal plane at or near the floor ofthe mine. After the cutterbar has been brought to this position in thehorizontal plane, it may be swung on its pivotal connection with thecasing 70 110 by operating theelectric motor within the casing F. Powermay be transmitted from this motor to swing the cutter bar in onedirection or the `other on its pivotal connection with the casing 70 byoperating the lever 98 at one side or the other 115 ing movements of thecutter bar A. By throwing in the clutch 49, the electric motor 22 may beconnected to the feed mechanism at will, and by reversing the electricmotor the feed mechanism may be reciprocated whenever desired.FObviously, therefore, the cutter bar A, while occupying a horizontalposition, may be swung at an angle and then moved bodily forward by thefeed mechanism while the cutter chain is ir operation, thereby producinga. cut in the mine wall. Furtheremore, after this cut has been producedto the required depth, the cutter bar may be swung laterally while thecutter chain is operating, and at the same time the rear portion of thecutter bar may be retracted until the cutter bar occupies a positionsubstantially at right angles to the body of the truck on which themining machine is mounted. Upon continued swinging movement of thecutter bar, the feed mechanism may be reversed so that the rear portionof the cutter bar will be fed forward during continued operation. .'Bymeans of this operation, the forward portion of the cutter bar travelsover a path which is approximately a straight line.

After the cutter bar has been swung in the opposite direction as far asdesired, the/ swinging movement may be discontinued, andi'while thecutter bar still occupies the position at an angle to its pivotalconnection to the casing 70, the motor 22 may be reversed-so as to causethe feeding mechanism to be drawn back while the cutter bar mine wall,each side of which is approximatelyY a straight line, as well as thebase of the cut. The

forward end of the cutter bar, during the swinging movement, tends tomove over an arc of a circle determined by) the angle of the swing, butthe reciprocation ofy the pivot of the cutter bar causes a resultantmovement of the outer end of the cutter bar along the chord of such arcof a circle.

The cutat or near the floor of the mine has been referred to merely byway of illustration, and it should be understood that a similar cut canbe made at or near the roof of the mine and also at each side wall ofthe-mine, or even at any angle to such cutsfwith the exception that wenever such cuts areproduced each must be in a plane parallel to theline of the path of travel of the i feed bar 40, so as to preventbinding of the cutter bar in the cut.

`It should be noted that'the mining apparatus above described and shownin the drawings is track mounted and when the rails are extended up to aposition near the face of the mine wall the mining apparatus may beswung around by the turntable mechanism to a position where the cutter Bmay cut a horizontal-kerf extending across the front of the miningapparatus from one side of the track tothe other. The ytruck frame 8constitutes a rigid base frame having supporting wheels which rest uponand are braced by the track, as shown in Fig. 1. The base frame carriesa laterally movable cutter arm which extends from the base frame inelevated horizontal planes above the other parts of'the apparatus. Whenthe frame E is swung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l, thekerf cutter may easily be swung to horizontal positio'n in a planeelevated with respect to the other parts of the apparatus. There may bea Iplurality of such elevated horizontal lanes because the screwthreaded bolt 12 may ,l ey used to lift and lower the frame D on thetruck frame 8. When lthe kerf cutter is in such horizontal plane itsendless cutter chain is movable .along the cutter arm in a pathhorizontal* throughout. Furthermore, when the kerf cutter is in itshighest position, the motor F is a chain driving motor positioned belowthe cutter arm and iixedly connecked thereto to move bodily therewithwhenever the adjusting mechanism 63, 64,' is operated. Also, when thekerf cutter is inA its uppermost -position the power transmissionbetween the.

kerf cutter and the motor constitutes power actuated means below the armor frame of the chain cutter for causing such arm and the chain cutterto move laterally to cutl a horizontal kerf in the elevated planeextending transversely from one side to the other' of the track.Although the track mounted mining apparatus cuts a horizontal kerfextending across its front from one side of the track to the other, thesupporting wheels l which rest upon the track are braced by the track bymeans of the tendency of the 'feed to twist the frame. .The anges of thewheels however, resist this twisting tendency and therefore the feedingoperation can be effected. Of course the kerf cutter B may be moved to ahorizontal vposition from its full line position shown in Fig. l so asto occupy its lowermost plane. But Whether the kerf cutter is in arelatively low cutting 'plane or in a relatively high plane, the bolt 12constitutes means for adjusting the cutter arm vertically. .inparallelism, and such near the roof thereof.

bolt 12 in combination with the gearing mechanism 63, 64, 56, 57,constitutes means for bodily adjusting the cutter arm vertically inparallelism to move thecutter chain lfrom one set of relatively lowcutting planes to another set vof relatively high cutting planes. Itisalsoobvious that the power actuated means shown in Figs. 5 and 6 isconstructed andj arranged to cause the arm and the chain ^to movelaterally`to cut a horizontalA kerf at any one of several elevations andextending transversely from one vside to the other of the` track. Whenthe kerf cutter is in its uppermost horizontal plane or in its lowermosthorizontal plane the bolt 12 may be relied upon for vertically adjustingthe motor and the cutting mechanism in horizontal parallelism and tohold it either where it will form a kerf in relatively low horizontalplanes or where it will form a kerf in other horizontal planesrelatively higher than those aforesaid. In other Words, the bolt 12constitutes means for adjusting the otor and the cutter frame verticallyfor the forming of horizontal kerfs in either of several differenthorizontal planes. The forward feed of the mining machine along thetrack to new positions may be effected by the power driven reel shwn at34 in Fig. 4, this reel being then movable horizontally with the cutterframe. The cable 36 when anchored, as shown in Fig. 4, and connected tothe reel is adapted to cause the forward movement, bodily, of thecutting apparatus.

It should also be observed that the mining machine illustrated in thedrawings may make horizontal kerfs at `theiloor of the mine chamber andhorizontal kerfs at the roof of the mine chamber while being moved alongthe track as a long wall mining-machine, the parts being arranged asshown in Fig.' l except thatv the cutter B is moved to its lowermosthorizontal position and uppermos'; horizontal position. Kerfs may alsobe made spaced back from the face of a long wall by adjusting theplane-of the kerf cutter to a vertical plane. 'Ihe machine may also beoperated by making vertical kerfs at right angles to the face of themine wall in which horizontal kerfs and kerfs spaced backfrom the minewall have already been produced thereby cutting out large blocks ofmaterial from the wall in their entirety.

The operations illustrated in Fig. 14 may also be made substantiallyhorizontally either at or near the floor ofthe mine chamber or at or Byreferring to Fig. 1 it` will be seen that the cutter chain B may beadjusted to a new position at or near the floor. By means of the motor17 the moving frame mounted on the truck may be given an annularmotionjn a plane substantially parallel with the surface upon"which themachine is supported; that is to say, the cutter chain may be given amovement in a plane substantially parallel with the oor and over a longarc so that the inner end of the cut near the arrow Y2 of Fi`g"g14 maybe straighter than Vwhen the cutter is swung on the shaft 81 of Figf asa pivot. 'When it is desired to feed the cutter along such l means ofthe boit 12 shown m 1: The cutterl B which forms a part of the cuttingelement projects eccentrically from the cutting element because when inhorizontal position it is in a plane spaced from the horizontal axis ofreversing movement; that is to say, parallel to the axis of the bearing52. Since the cutter projects eccentrically it may be quickly adjustedrfrom a low position near the floor to a high position near the roof,and further adjustment secured by the`bolt 12.

It should therefore be noted that when the cutter arm is in itsuppermost position it projects from the top of the cutting element,assuming that the cutter is in its horizontal position near the roof. Itwill be observed that the framework mounted on the truck is sup-l portedat various places and said framework may be moved up and downalong saidsupports to vary the point at-which the cutter B engages the material tobe cut, particularly when the cutter is in a horizontal position. Thecutting element, as above explained, may be inverted to a position nearthe floor so that the cutter arm then projects from the bottom of thcutting element.

It should also be noted that the machine shown in Fig. 1 includes afeeding mechanism comprising the flexible element 36 which may beanchored outside of the moving frame, as shown in Fig. 4. By means ofthis feeding mechanism the cutter may be moved forward substantiallyparallel to itself when it occupies a horizontal position ahead of thetrack on which the truck is mounted. Another feeding mechanism for thecutter comprises the rack and pinion 42, 43 of Fig. 1, which may be usedto move the cutter forward along the line Y1 of Fig. 14 so as to bringthe cutter into new angular positions until it occupies the properangular position for movement of the cutter along the direction Y2. The

single motor 22 operates both of these feeding mechanisms.

When the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is substituted for that shownin Fig. 1 and the rack bar 40 is turned so as to extend parallel to thetrack, the part designated E may be considered as constituting arotatable neck which is horizontal and parallel to the machine path. Thewheel 60 Aand the worm gearing to which it is connected constitutesmeans for actuating said neck. The mechanism comprising the worm 64constitutes screw mechanism acting on the axis of the shaft 65transversely to the axial line of the neck E for supporting the cuttingtool A on the neck E for movement on the latter toward and from theaxial line of the neck E. The cutting tool may also be swung toahorizontal position parallel to the oor where the upright axis 81 shownin Fig. 6 will be forward of the neck E and perpendicular to the neckaxis. Fig. 6 also showsl the means for actuating the cutting tool,including not only the driving of the cutting chain B, but also theswinging thereof on the .axis 81 by means of the feeding mechanismcomprising the worm 95. ferring to Figs. 8 and 9 it will be seen thatthe rotatable neck E has an axis which is fixed in elevation relative tothe frame D, and horizontal and parallel to the machine path, when thecutter 105 is extended in advance of the mine track. The screw mechanismcomprising the worm 64 is carried by the neck and acts transversely tothe axial line of the neck for supporting and at the will of theoperator moving' the cutting tool 105 on the neck E' toward and from theApath by rotation of the neck E. the wheel 67 the cutter may be adjustedto va- By reaxial line of the neck; that is, from the floor to theposition shown in Fig. 8. The motor 22 is seated on the body of themachine and mechanism provided for transmitting motion from this motorto the tool comprising the cutter bar 105 and the driving sprocket shownin Fig. 8. In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the cutter may be swungon an upright axis which is'forward of the neck E and perpendicular tothe neck axis when the cutter is in a plane parallel to the axis of theneck. In both the construction shown in Fig. 1 and in the constructionshown in Figs. 8 and 9 the cutter may have a swinging movement on theupright axis of the turntable mechanism which is mounted on the truck.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 there is a group `of membersbodily rotatable on the main horizontal relatively stationary axis ofthe neck E. This group of members comprises a head 148'journaled on anaxis which is perpendicular to the main horizontal axis. A transmissionshaft is connected to the chain driving sprocket. The casing forsupporting the shaft carrying the sprocket wheel constitutes guiding andsupporting means distinct from and parallel and adjacent tothe'perpendicular axis. The cutting means is applied to this guiding andsupporting means and is adjusted thereon toward and from the mainhorizontal axis by being capable of being swungby means of the wheel 67.The actuating means for the cutting mechanism comprises the beveledgears 141, 143 and 150.

It should also be noted that both in the construction shown vin Fig. land in the construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the cutter may be swungbodily by means of the wheel 60 and the gearing connected thereto. y Inthis manner the cutting tool may be carried through an orbital By meansof rious distances from the axis of the neck E', the maximum distancebeing when the cutter is in horizontal position. That is to say, bymovement of the cutting tool toward and from the axial line the distanceof the cutting tool from the axial line may be varied and therefore theradius of the orbital path of the cutting tool will be varied. In thestructure 'shown the elongated cutting tool may be carried from theposition parallel to the axial line of the neck E for orbital movementaround said line and also for movement from and toward said line, andsaid cutting tool may also be swung in a plane which is parallel to saidaxial line when the cutter is in a position parallel to said axial line.

The turntable together with the frame D constitutes a body turntablehorizontally by 4means of the wheel 17 as shown in Fig. 1. The supportfor the cutting tool A is rotatable on a horizontal axis at the centerof the cylindrical bearing 52. By means of the worm gearing 63, 64 thevcutting tool is movable toward and from such axial line. By referring toFig. 8, it will be seen that the Worm gear 63 extends along a sufficientarc to permit movement of the driving sprocket to a prdsition where itsaxis will be vertical and since the cutter may be moved through acomplete circle, it may be located in an elevated position extendingforwardly. With the gear 63 of Fig. l extended zsufficiently and whilethe arms,r E2 are depended the cutting tool may occupy a positionintermediate the oor andthe roof to cut the kerf in the approximatemid-position shown in Figs. 23 and 24.

Figs. 23 and 24 also show the cutting of a kerf at the level of theiioor on which the track is laid. By referring to Fig l it will be seenthat the machine. includes a wheeled track guided truck provided with abase with a pivotal mounting thereon for a cutter bar, this mountingbeing pivoted to swing on the center of the turntable. Both in the formshown in Fig. 1 and in the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the cutter bar ispivoted on this mounting to swing about the vertical axis of the, shaft81, when the kerf cutter is in a horizontal position at the level of thefloor. By referring to Fig. 14 and considering the same as a plan viewit will be seen that the cutter bar may be disposed in a transverseplaneV beneath the top of themine track 3. 'Ihe turntable permits a widelateral swinging movement of the supporting framework for the cutter sothat it may occupy a position wholly at either side of the mine trackfor rectilinear feeding movement parallel to the mine track and so thatwhen desired it may be fed arcuately across the end of the track asindicated by the arrow Y? in Fig. 14. By reason of the worm gearing 95,96 the cutter bar may be `held with its longitudinal axis in a verticalplane that includes the vertical axis of the turntable.

When held in such position a sumping cut may be made by a rectilinearfeeding movement as indicated by the arrow Y1 in Fig. 14. ,e

'The chain cutter comprises cutting elements 117 which circulates aroundthe cutter bar in an orbit within which the pivot 81 is disposed. TheIupright pivotal support 81 may be shifted laterally by the. apparatusfor turning the turntable, and such'apparatus as above stated may bepower operated. That is to say, the upright axis 81 may be swunglaterally relatively to the truck on the upright axis at the center ofthe Aturntable. The worm gearing y63, 64 holds the pivot 81 in uprightposition when the kerf cutter is operating at the floor level. The wormgearing 56, 5'7 holds'the tool support in an orbit around the horizontalaxis of the bearing 52.

It should be understood that power may be connected to-swing the cutterbar on the axis 81, and such connection may be controlled by operatingeither lever 98 connected to the clutches 91. The angular relationbetween the cutter bar and the supporting framework,y may therefore beadjusted whenever desired. For instance, while the tip or extreme outerend of the cutter bar remains stationary the vertical axis 8l may beswung laterally by the turntable and the means for swinging the cutterbar on the axis 81 operated at `the same time to effect such a relationof the cutter bar to the framework that its major axis Willmake a lessangle with the line of the track than is made by a line extending fromthe center of the turntable to the outer end of the major axis. Thisarrangementis particularly desirable when operating in a narrow entry soPthat a sumping cut may be made by rec'- tilinear-forward movementparallel to the track, while the kerf cutter is at the fioor level andthe rear end of the cutter bar is wholly at oneside of the track. Thatis to say, a sumping cut may be made in a narrow entry by a rectilinearforward feed while-the kerf cutter cuts at the mine 'oor level with thepivot 81 at one side of the mine track. Lateral swinging feedingmovement may then be effected while the kerf cuter is `at the floorlevel in advance of the mine track. The cutter bar may then again beadjusted in its angular relation by simultaneously operating theturntable against movement and the worm gearing 95, .96 to bring thevertical pivot 81 entirely to the other side of the mine track. Reverserectilinear feeding movement may then be made along such other side ofthe mine track. It should also be understood that the overhanging arm ofthe structure may occupy a central position in advance of the mine trackand the kerf cutter so adjusted in angularposition that it may rst begiven a rectilinear for-r ward feeding movement as indicated at Y1 inFig. 14, then the cutter may be swung across the end of the track asindicated by the arrow Y2, and finally withdrawn rectilinearly asindicated by the arrow YS, which is areverse feeding movement parallelto the mine track.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in thedetails and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as dei-ined by the claims hereto appended, and Iwish, therefore, not to be limited to the precise construction hereindisclosed.

Having thus shown and described an embodiment of the invention what isdesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. In a. mining machine, the combination with `an elongated travelingchain cutter, of a support therefor around which said chaincuttertravels, a motor, means for carrying saidsupport entirely fromsaid motor, mechanism carried entirely by said support for transmittingpower from said motor to said chain cutter, and a universally adjustablesupport for the self-contained kerf cutting unit comprising said motor,said chain cutten, said iirst named support, and said intermediate powertransmitting mechanism.

2.. In a track mounted mining apparatus adapted to cut a horizontal kerfextending across its front from one side of the track to the other, thecombination with a rigid base frame, of` supporti ing wheels thereforresting upon and braced by the track, a laterally movable cutter-armcarried by the base frame and extending horizontally therefrom, anendless chain-cutter movable along the cutter-arm in a horizontal path,-a chain driving motor connected to said cutter-arm to move bodilytherewith, means for bodily moving the said Harm to a cutting plane nearthe upper portion of the apparatus and for moving the arm to arelatively low cutting plane near the lower portion of the apparatus,means for bodily adjustthe elevation of the upper cutting plane and toadjust the elevation of the relatively low cutting plane, andpower-actuatedmeans constructedI and arranged to cause the arm and thechain to move laterally to cut a horizontal kerf at any one of severalelevations near the vupper portion of the apparatus and to cut ahorizontal kerf at any one of several elevations near the lower portionof the apparatus,'such kerfs extending transversely from one side tothe-other of the track.

3. In a mining machine, the combination with kerf-cutting mechanism, ofmeans for actuating said kerf-cutting mechanism in the plane of itself,means for supporting said cutting mechaitc cutting mechanism in any of'the planes in which it is positioned.

4. In a mining machine, the combination with a chain kerf cutter, of asupport therefor, a motor connected directly to the latter to drive saidcutter and carry the chain support entirely, and a universallypositioned support for the motor operable to adjust the position of thecutting mechanism so that its plane of operation will lie at any anglewith respect to the material to be cut.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, cf asupplemental frame, an elongated chain Keri-cutter, means for supportingsaid kerf-cutter on said supplemental frame in planes substantially atright angles to the upright face of the mine wall, means for rotatingsaid supporting means on said supplemental frame to vary the inclinationof the plane of said kerf-cutter while remaining substantially at rightangles to the mine Wall, means for advancing and retracting saidsupplemental frame relatively to said main frame to eifect a rectilinealmovement of said kerf-cutter in a plane substantially at right angles tothe mine wall, and means for feeding said kerf-cutter in an arc afterbeing fed into the mine wall, said retracting means effecting awithdrawal of the kerf-cutter from the mine Wall while being fed in arectilineal path spaced from the first-named rectilineal movement.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of asupplemental frame, a traveling chain kerf-cutter, a support for saidkerfcutter rotatably mounted on saidsupplemental frame and holding thekerf-cutter in planes distant from the line of movement of saidsupplemental frame but parallel to such line of movement, means foradjusting the position of said support to Vary the -inclination of saidkerf-cutter while remaining in planes substantially perpendicular to anupright mine wall, means for advancing and retracting said supplementalframe relatively to said main frame and in a straight line movement toeffect rectilineal feeding movements of saidkerf-cutter, means forfeeding said kerf-cutter in an arcin its own plane, and means foractuating said traveling chain kerf-cutter during rectilineal feedthereof and during arcuate feed thereof.

'7. In a coal cutting machine, the combination with a movable baseframe, of supporting track .ing track Wheels, means wheels therefor,cutter apparatus movable as a unit with respect to the base frame abouta normally vertical axis and comprising a motor and a continuouslyacting kerf-cutting mechanism driven by the motor and extending outwardbeyond the base frame along normally horizontal lines, means foradjusting the position of said Keri-cutting mechanism to extend alongsuch horizontal lines near the uppermost plane of the machine and nearthe lower portion of the machine, the said cutter mechanism beingmovable across one end of the machine about the said vertical axisthrough an arc extending at each side beyond the vertical plane of thecorrespondfor locking the cutter apparatus to the base frame at any ofseveral angles, and continuously operable devices con` nected with themotor for turning the Ycutter apparatus about the said vertical axiswhile in operation, or for moving the machine bodily on its wheels whilethe cutting apparatus is in operation and locked against turning.

8. In a mining machine, the combination with a flat elongated cutterframe, of a traveling endless chain -cutter mounted upon and disposedWithin the plane of said frame, a rotary support rigidly connected tosaid cutter frame, an additional support to which said rotary support ispivotally connected on an axis substantially perpendicular to the planeof said cutter-f rame, automatic means for rotating said rotary supporton said additional support to eiect arcuate feed of said chain-cutter,means for actuating said chaincutter during the feed thereof, abifurcated frame pivotally connected'to said additional support on anaxis transverse relatively to said rstnamed axis, and means foradjusting the position of said additional support relatively to saidbifurcated frame to vary the angular relation of said cutter-frame andchain-cutter with respect to the material to be cut.

9. In a mining machine, the combination of a cutting mechanismcomprising an Lelongated frame and an endless chain cutter disposed in aplane of said frame, a support upon which said frame is rotatable in theplane of said chain cutter, an additional frame pivotally connected tosaid support, a longitudinally shiftable frame, a connection betweensaid additional frame and said longitudinally shiftable frame, saidadditional frame being rotatable about its longitudinal axis by reasonof such connection, said frame support being rotatable upon anaxistransverse to said longitudinal axis, and means formoving saidlongitudinally shiitable frame for adjusting the cutting mechanism.

10. In a mining machine, the combination with an elongated Keri-cutter,of a frame connected thereto to move bodily therewith, a rotary supportupon which said frame and said cutter are rotatable in the plane of saidframe, automatic mechanism carried by said support for actuating saidcutter and for feeding the same, means for bodily rotating said supportabout an axis angularly disposed with respect to the axis of rotation ofsaid frame to adjust said cutter arcuately transversely toits plane, aportable base frame, and a longitudinally shiftable mounting thereon forsaid support to adjust the cutter rectilinearly relative to said baseframe.

ll. The combination of an elongated frame, a cutting mechanism mountedthereon and arranged in the plane thereof, a rotary support upon whichsaid frame and cutting mechanism are rotatable in the plane of saidframe, driving mechanism carried by said support for actuating saidcutting mechanism, means for bodily rotating said support about an axisangularly disposed with respect to the axis of rotation of said frame, asecond rotary support for said iirst rotary support, means for rotatingsaid second support about an axis angularly disposed with respect to theaxis of rotation of said rst support, and a longitudinally shiftablemounting for said supports to advance the cutting mechanism along thevein.

12. The combination of a traveling truck, a turn-table mounted upon saidtruck, va longitudinally and transversely shiftable frame supported bysaid turn-table and rotatable therewith, a rotary supporting devicemuntedon said frame, a supplemental deviceNmounted upon said supportingdevice for bodily rotation therewith and arranged for rotary movementupon an axis disposed at an angle with respect to the axis of rotationof said supporting device, and an elongated' cutting mechanism carriedby said supplemental device and rotatable about an axis lol) vcarried bysaid base frame and mounted to turn lin relation thereto in normallyhorizontal planes,

a shiftabl supplemental frame mounted on said rotary frame, continuouslyacting cutter devices carried by said supplemental frame and adaptedwhen said rotary frame turns to cut a horizontal kerf extendingtransversely across the track on which the machine stands, means forturning the rotary frame, a motor for actuating the turning means, saidmotor being mounted to move bodily with the turningmeans, and means forshifting said supplemental frame to secure rectilinear feed of saidcutter devices relatively to said base frame and the track on which saidwheels are mounted.

14. In a-mining machine, the combination with a at elongatedkerf-cutter, of a rotary frame for supporting said kerf-cutter, a secondframe for pivotally supporting said rotary frame, automatic mechanismfor rotating said first-named frame relatively to said second frame tofeed said cutter in the plane of itself, driving mechanism associatedwith said rst-named frame for actuating said cutting mechanism duringsuch feed thereof', spaced-apart trunnions mounted on'said second-namedframe to have an axis of rotation independent of the axis of rotation ofsaid rstnamed frame relatively to said second-named frame andsubstantially parallel to the plane of said kerf-cutten` and a thirdframe pivotally connected to said trunnions.

Fx15. In a mining machine, the combination wit an elongated chainkerf-cutter, of driving mechanism therefor, a frame for supporting said4chain kerf-cutter, means for pivotally supporting said frame on an axis-parallel to tire plane of said chain kerf-cutter and spaced therefrom,means for supporting and adjusting said axis of rotation for movementbodily in an arc spaced from the axis of the adjusting means, and meansfor adjusting said kerf-cutter on said first-named -axis to intersect aune. extending through the axis of said adjusting means.

16. In a mining machine, the combination with an elongated chainkerf-cutter, of means for operating the same including feed thereof inits own "plane, a frame for supporting said chain s kerf-cutter, arotary support for pivotally supporting said frame on an axis parallelto the vplane of said chain kerf-cutter and spaced therefrom, means forpositively rotating Vsaicl rotary support to bodily shift said frame andsaid chain Jkerf-cutter to `various positions, and means/ for adjustingsaid frame and said chain kerf-cutter on said iirst-named rotary supportfor varying the angle at which said cutter is presented to the materialto be cut including positions where the path of feeding movement of saidcutter or the korf produced byfsaid cutter intersects aline extendingthrouglr the axis of said shifting means. 17. In a mining machine, thecombination with an electric motor, of kerf-cutting mechanism, powertransmission mechanism between said electric motor and said cuttingmechanism for operating said kerf-cutting mechanism including feedingmovement thereofV in an arc in its own plane, and a universallyadjustable support for said-motor to enable the plane of operation ofsaid cutting mechanism to be varied from positions perpendicular to theface of an upright mine wall, substantially parallel thereto and at anyangle between such perpendicular and par- .allel positions.

18. In a mining machine, the combination with an elongated chainkerf-cutter, of means for operating the same including arcuate'feedthereof on an axis of rotation near the rear end of said` kerf-cutter, aportable frame, a supplemental frame`movably^mounted on said portableframe, a reciprocable support for said kerf-cutter and mounted on saidsupplemental frame, means for moving said supplemental frame relativelyto said portable frame to adjust the said reciprocable support inparallelism with the walls of a mine chamber, and means for controllingthe reciprocation of said support to eifect rectilinear iced of saidkerf-cutter relatively to said portable rame.

19. In a system of coal mining devices of the ics jacent the roof of themine chamber, a power driven reel movable horizontally with the cutterframe, and a cable connected thereto and adapted to cause the forwardmovement, bodily, of the cutting apparatus along such horizontal planes.

20. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, oftracksupporting `lwheels therefor, a chain kerf-cutter, means for operatingsaid kerf-cutter, alframe for supporting said cliain kerf-cutter on anaxis parallell to the plane of said cutter and spaced therefrom, meansfor rotating said frame on an axis transverse tol said parallel axis, asupplemental frame mounted on said main frame and carrying saidtransverse axis, and means for moving said supplemental frame relativelyto said main frame to secure rectilinear movement of saidkerf-cutterin adi- Y rection parallel to said transverse axis.

. 21. In a track mounted mining machine adapted to cut a horizontal kerfextending across its front from one side ofN the track to thel other,the combination with a rigid supporting frame, of supporting wheelstherefor resting upon and braced by the track, a laterally movablecutter arm carried by the supporting frame and adjustable to positionsextendingfrom said frame in elevated horizontal planes vspaced above ahorizontal plane lextending along the top of said frame and alsoadjustable to positions extending from said frame in horizontal planesbelow the plane extending through the top o1' the said frame, an endlesschain-cutter movable along said cutter-arm in a path horizontalthroughout, a

chain driving motor connected to said cutter arm

